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JUDGES COMMENTS
VCE VET APPLIED FASHION AND DESIGN STUDENTS - 2 STUDENTS
CHLOE ORR
Redesigned Garment
Blue Dress
Red Formal Dress
Tartan Pinafore
Nurse Scrubs
It took me a while to understand that the redesigned garment was made from the dress – I couldn’t believe it! I thought it was such a clever idea and a pleasant and wearable result. I also really enjoyed the pinafore dress and the choice of fabric – I have grown up in the nineties and it feels like a refreshing take on this classic 90s shape! Last but not least, I thought that the blue dress was really fairy-like and would be absolutely perfect for some theatre plays.
IMOGEN PRICE
Redesigned Garment
Nurse Scrubs
I thought that the formal dress was quite dramatic and loved how the fabric seems to flow. It looks aerial and that it would be so comfortable to wear whilst being quite a striking dress!
I thought that the nurse scrub looked great and would have certainly put a smile as much on the health worker than the patients.
YEAR 12 STUDIO ART - 10 STUDENTS
DARCIE THOMAS
Depth of Water
I was interested by how the scale and colours were used to illustrate the theme and convey the relationship between humans and water – especially aligning with climate change and the importance of water as it nurtures life but can also bring catastrophe, drought, flood, storms. It was great to see how the composition evolved in the folio and to add more volume in the lower part of the artwork – I thought it was a great way to show that water, as much as it’s threatening, is also our greater support.
AUDREY STOCK
Unconventional
I am amazed by Audrey’s knowledge and use of colours and the quality of her drawing lines. It demonstrates such artistic technicity! I thought that the theme was treated with respect and invited the viewer to look at the portrait of an individual in their whole. It made me think of fashion model Winnie Harlow and how visibility and representation matter, and I thought that it worked really well with the other series of portraits as a whole.
AUDREY STOCK
Colours
I thought that the subject of celebrating each individual’s uniqueness was well achieved thanks to the choice of the portrait’s posture and the attention given to the eyes that really give personality and depth to the portraits. I like that the women seem to be looking at us and sustain our gaze, instead of us looking at them. It reminded me of the “female gaze” defended by many artists and I think it does make this series more striking and speaking to our times. (in particular of the work of this Melbourne photographer https://www.jodyhainesphotography.com/iamwoman#1 )
LILLITH STEVENS
Unknown Artwork number 1
I was struck by the choice of colours – they are vibrant and so unusual but they work so seamlessly together. I thought it also gave a bit of a retro vibe to the portrait (maybe because it reminded me of the amazing designer Marion Hall Best and how she was never shy to associate very bold colours together – with a very similar palette to this artwork) I really appreciated the use of pastels to render a range of textures and to give so much depth to the portrait
LILLITH STEVENS
Unknown Artwork number 2
I can’t imagine how complex it must have been to create the pieces so as they would create a working jigsaw, while still highlighting the key features. It was interesting for me to see the folio pages on the process. This new puzzled individual made me think on how we sometimes get overly analytic with ourselves, focus on very tiny details of our looks or personalities where others look at us wholesomely, as we look back at them
INDIGO SHILLING
The Secret Garden
I was quite interested by the use of mixed medias – the smooth oils and the sculptural quality of the flowers. I thought that it was a beautiful portrait and I like the balance between tradition and modernity, that we could as much see an inspiration from the traditional portraits as much as a more contemporary take on it (it could almost be inspired by a selfie – the most contemporary self-portrait). I thought that the use of flowers was very interesting – from the tradition of using them as symbols to depict the portrait’s quality to a more contemporary aesthetic (thinking of contemporary looks at music festivals!)
TAHLIA SANDS
Waves
I felt an immediate sense of calmness in the series and thought that the artworks conveyed really well the idea of waves and how our relationship with nature can soothe our minds. The general aesthetics felt very pleasant to me and reminded me as much as the waves as certain skies after the sunset, when hints of purple and rose appear before night.
TAHLIA SANDS
Sentimental
I appreciated the link between the two series of works and how our relationship with nature can bring a sense of calm and wellbeing – whether it’s being outside or bringing nature inside our homes – and in particular how we can get joy from it when we are in contact with plants as much as we take care of them. I thought that this was spot-on in the current context, where a number of people have found solace in nature whilst being very aware of the importance of taking care of it.
ZOE POULIOS
Untitled
I immediately thought of corals when I saw Zoe’s artwork and how we sometimes think that white corals are spectacularly beautiful though they are in fact dying. The colours were speaking to me on that same level, it could look like the corals that are beautiful are actually suffering. I like the fine details of the corals and they looked to me as much as the branches of the corals as a map of the underworld, which suggested that the Great Barrier is a world in itself.
ZOE MADDOX
Untitled
The artwork immediately spoke to me with these bright wide vivid eyes that look right into ours, separated from us though by spiky wires – as if we were similar but living in a very different reality. The palette and the focus on the face seemed a good choice to me to highlight the horror of the situation and how unfair and terrible it is, and yet it is everyday’s reality for some people.
JASMINE HARRIS
Untitled
I found the theme very interesting and a creative way to work around it. The aesthetics of the photos reminded me of how people may choose to present themselves on social media, trying to convey a sense of authenticity whilst carefully curating the right pose (along with the right vintage filter!) as much as it reminded me of polaroids that were actually instantaneous captures of moments of life. I really liked how the series captured how it can feel to be a young adult, feeling more confident and assertive about our personality whilst feeling some insecurity and a bit of awkwardness at times.
JASMINE HARRIS
Untitled
I thought that working on vulnerability was a very unique idea and that the process and the outcome aligned well with the intention. I was also pleased to see this photo in colours as I thought it worked well to portray the individual in all his uniqueness, and not in black and white which would have made it more polished.
MONTANA JACKSON
Perceptions on Reflections
I have always loved artworks that are interactive or require somehow the participation of the audience. I think that the use of the mirror for such an emotional artwork was a great way to get someone to immediately experience another reality whilst being a well-known symbol in the arts for two worlds, life & death as well as love of self – quite perfect for the subject! I also really appreciated the lines of the print that reminded me of drawings from the early 20th century (namely Matisse, Picasso, Rodin, or Klimt) that were so brilliant to express sensuality and femininity with just a few lines. And I must command the choice of printmaking on such a big scale and on a mirror!
TAMARA LOVETT
The Day Goes By
I was very attracted to this triptych, in particular by the texture. I thoroughly enjoy when the material itself suggests the subject and here seeing the brushstrokes and a great amount of paint being used really suggests water to me, in all its stillness. I don’t know if it was the intention but I thought about Munch and his famous artwork The Scream. Before reading the blurb I thought that the artwork was playing on this idea, with the screaming man removed and replaced by a quiet fisherman to entirely focus on a landscape that could be soothing and silent without him - and the painting definitely achieves this sense of calm and serenity!
TAMARA LOVETT
Washed Away In Time
I thought it was such an interesting idea to use photo editing to show the landscapes at three moments of the day. I thought it also spoke a lot to our perception of reality too. Looking at it reminded me of my own relationship to nature and how I feel when I walk on the beach or in the mountains, at different times of the year and the effect it had on my emotions.
COMMENTS ON EXHIBITION OVERALL
It was such a nice exhibition, and I was pleased to see such a range of media, techniques and themes being used by the students to express their own artistic voice. It wasn’t an easy decision to pick a winner this year – there were several artworks that really caught my eye, and it was a tough choice to make the final call. I want to insist on the fact that art and its appreciation is quite personal. I have picked one winner because the artwork particularly spoke to my emotions and aesthetics. There were qualities in each and every artwork and garment and I am certain that other members of the audience will have their personal favourites.
I could see each student’s unique vision in the choice and treatment of the subjects they have chosen and thought that whilst being aesthetically pleasing, the artworks were also speaking to a range of very important themes, challenges and issues. It seems particularly important to me, especially in our current context where we have experienced a whole year of crisis and isolation and sometimes might feel that there may be things that are more important to focus on rather than the arts. Though, as perfectly demonstrated in this exhibition, the arts and creativity in general contribute to our wellbeing, help us understand the world and ourselves, find our own voice, and help us focus on what really matters. I am very grateful to the Jaki Upward’s family and the EMC for organising this art award every year. I wish all students all the best for their studies and hope that art will continue to have a great place in their lives – whether they choose to pursue an art or fashion career or not – we all need some creativity! I also hope I will have the chance to see you at McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery when we reopen in December.
Last but not least, I wanted to express how pleased I was with the online exhibition experience. Working in an arts organisation myself, I know first-hand how complex it is to transition from an onsite event to an online experience. I thought that the website was really well thought and the photographs allowed to have a very good viewing of the artworks – so congrats to the person that has put up such a great online viewing!